Can-top.



J. E. WOOTEN.

CAN TOP APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26.1916

1,981,472. v Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

6 m f/ F230? m1 TD gwve'ntoz JEWoatcn- JOHN E. WOOTEN, or LITTLE ROCK,ARKANSAS.

CAN-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0ct.15, 1918.

Application filed June 26, 1916. Serial No. 106,023.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. WOOTEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lit tle Rock, in the county of Pulaski, State of Arkansas,have invented certain new an useful Improvements in Can-Tops; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the class of can tops, and has particularreference to a combined cutoff and measuring spout for can cutoff andmeasuring top for cans which is sufficiently practical to permit it tobe economically constructed as a part of commercial containers forbaking powders, spices, coffee, salt and similar household staples. Tothis end I have conceived a top provided with a discharge spout withwhich is associated a cutoff member which may be readily swung into orout of cutofi position. I have further associated with the spout andcutofi device, a measuring instrument which may be applied to the spoutto receive therefrom the material in the container, the cutofi beingused to regulate the flow of the material from the container to themeasuring instrument.

In commercial use, the measuring instrument may be applied in varioussizes, so as, according to the contents of the can a measuring device ofsuitable size may be furnished at the time of sale.

With the above object in view, and other, involving the details ofconstruction which will hereinafter appear, my invention will now befully set forth and described, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the top,

Fig. 2 is a bottom view,

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4: is a perspective view of a measuring attachment whichaccompanies the top.

Referring more particularly to said drawings, 1 represents the can topwhich may be of removable or other type, the construction in this casebeing contemplated as a fixed top having its peripheral edge crimped 2and being countersunk into the can body said can body. At a suitbelowthe edge of The object of my invention is to provide a able point, whichwould most advantageously be to one side of the top, a flange 3 isupturned from the body of the metal, said upturned flange providing adischarge spout surrounding the opening 1. Preferably, the flange 3 doesnot project above the marginal edge of the can body 2, so that inshipment, the spout may not become damaged. A cap 5 is provided forclosing the spout 3, when the can is not in active use. Mounted on thelower side of the top 1 is a cutoff 6 which is adapted to cover theopening 4:, so that a measuring device 11 (Fig. 4) may be used with thetop. Said cutofi consists ofa metallic plate which is slidable over thelower face of the top 1, and is provided with a bearing section 7 whichis centrally apertured to receive two or more prongs 8. Said prongs 8are stamped downwardly from the body of the top 1, and are spaced aparta distance substantially equal to the width of the aperture formed inthe bearing section 7. After the bearing section 7 has been seated overthe prongs 8, the latter are bent outwardly to overlie the section 7,and thereby hold the plate 6 in rotatable relation to the top 1. Whenthebearing section 7 is thus positioned, the plate 6 may be swung acrossthe opening 4 to cut the latter off from the interior of the receptacle.In order to provide a means for actuating the plate 6, a tongue 9 isstamped from the body of the plate 6 and bent upwardly to projectthrough an arcuate slot 10 which is formed in the top 1, in suitableposition, the arcuate slot 10 being concentric to the bearing of theplate 6, so that when the tongue 9 is moved from the slot, the plate 6will be rotated around its hearing. The tongue 9, after being passedthrough the slot 10, is bent to overlie the top 1, so as to aid insupporting the plate 6, and also to be disposed wholly within thecountersunk top.

Associated with the can top is a measuring receptacle 11, which consistsof a tubular structure adapted to fit over the flange 3 when the cap 5is removed. Said receptacle 7 closed at one end, so as to 11 ispreferably and according to the parcontainer is put,

,the receptacle 11 can be filled to structed to hold a teaspoonful.While, if the can is to contain coflee, the measuring receptacle 11 maybe formed of sufficient size to measure tablespoonfuls. In cases Wherethe capacity of the measuring receptacle is not too great, it maycombine at once the functions of cover for the opening 4: and themeasuring instrument.

While the operation of my improved device is obvious from the foregoingdescription, it should be noted that I have provided a combined cutofiand measuring device for small containers, such as baking power boxes,coffee canisters, and similar receptalces Which may be economicallymanufactured as a part of the can to accompany the latter When the goodsare sold. Thus, by removing the .cap 5,- and substituting the receptacle11, the container can be inverted, the cutoff 6 having first been turnedbelow the opening 4, and thus held until the container has been placedin inverted position, measure a predetermined quantity for use, afterWhich vthe cutoif member can be restored over the opening 4 and themeasuring device 11 removed.

It is further to be noted that the top can be applied to containersCopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byWashington, D. 0.

of other materials provided With an arcuate slot extending.

laterally from a line connecting the pivotal axis of the cut-off plateand the center of I the receptacle top opening, said slot havin as itscenter the oil plate, and a tongue struck laterally from theintermediate portion of the cut-oil plate to extend through the slot,and then extended in substantial parallelism to the cut- 0E plate tooverlie the receptacle top portion at the side pivotal axis of thecut-ofi.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in the presence oftWoWitnesses.

. JOHN E. WOOTEN. Witnesses:

L. M. CAMERON, C. H. BECKER.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

pivotal axis of the cut of the slot remote, from the l

